Panasonic knows all about
video and that’s been evident in all the generations of Lumix G cameras. Although starting to get a bit long in the tooth, the GH4 is still arguably the pick of the mirrorless models for serious video-makers (with Sony’s newer A7S II now making a challenge), but even the lower-end models are all very capable in this area. The GX85 is no different and it’s the latest Lumix G camera capable of recording 4K video, but there are a couple of curious omissions off the feature list which may well limit its appeal as a video camera. The biggie is the absence of a stereo audio input which means an external microphone can’t be fitted and you have to use the built-in stereo pair. They aren’t bad, but they’re limited and the only way around this is to use an external recorder and sync the sound later on. If you’re prepared to go to this trouble, you’re probably not shopping for the GX85. For the record, it doesn’t have an audio output either, nor the flat cinema (gamma) colour profiles which are available on, for example, the GX8, and which make post-production processes such as colour grading so much easier. It’s hard to fathom the thinking here because, apart from these omissions, the GX85 is very well-featured as a video camera. The 4K footage is recorded in the Ultra HD format at 3840x2160 pixels and at either 25 fps or 24 fps (the GX85 is TV region specific so only the PAL frame rates are available). UHD video is recorded in the MP4 format using MPEG-4/H.264 AVC compression, giving a bit rate of 100 Mbps which means plenty of crisply-defined detailing. Full HD video can be recorded in either the MP4 or AVCHD formats and at 50, 25 or 24 fps. Levels adjustment is available for the built-in mics and a wind-cut filter, but it’s still hard to avoid handling noise and, in very quiet situations, the faint whirr of the image stabilisation. On the plus side, the upgraded IS is available when shooting both Full HD and 4K video.
A really clever new feature is called ‘4K Live Cropping’ and it allows for a Full HD frame to be programmed to either move around the full image area, or changed in size. This subsequently enables digital panning and zooming in/out to be performed during 20- or 40-second MP4 clips (but in 2K, not 4K as has been erroneously reported elsewhere). Of course, this is a technique used a lot in professional video post-production, but no doubt many amateur movie-makers will find it handy to have incamera. In terms of general functionality, any of the ‘PASM’ exposure control modes can be used, along with continuous autofocusing and focus tracking. Touch focusing is available too, plus a number of other on-screen controls which will help reduce handling noise. When focusing manually, a magnified image and/or a focus peaking display provide assistance, and there’s a zebra pattern to indicate areas of overexposure. As on the GX8, you can choose from two types of zebra pattern.
All the ‘Photo Style’ picture presets are also available for shooting video – including the new L Monochrome – as well as 17 of the ‘Creative Control’ special effects. Also available are the ‘i.Dynamic’ and ‘i.Resolution’ processing functions, the ‘Highlight/Shadow’ adjustment control, and ‘Diffraction Compensation’ which corrects for the image softening that happens when shooting at very small lens apertures (i.e. f16 or f22).
As we concluded in the main report, the GX85 is a solid performer which is as true of its video capabilities as its photographic potential, but this still may not be quite enough to stop you from buying the GX8 instead.